Stroke, Draw & Follow Shots
Stroke shots, in particular, require good technique and control. It's where the cue ball is close to or even frozen to an object ball. Speed control and accuracy position shots would also be categorized in this discipline.
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Draw shots require the cue ball to be hit below center giving it backspin, so when it hits an object ball, it will draw back along its inital path.
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Follow shots are the opposite of draw, the cue ball is struck above center giving it top spin, so it continues along its initial path after it hits an object ball.
Power Draw
This shot has been around for many programs of Artistic Pool and is still a timeless classic shot. I've seen players like Mike Massey and other perform it with ease, but it still is a hard to shot to execute because you got to put a lot of effort in stroking the cue ball and go three rails to hit the Delta Rack. If you have a powerful strong arm, it shouldn't be much of a problem for you. Sometimes, some of the players chose to have the cue ball be within the 1 X 1 diamond zone near the hanger ball in case they don't have enough power to get the ball that far. It all depends on what size table they are playing on. Classic shot, and one for the ages.
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Draw Passing Lane
A real challenge for a pro pool trick shooter here. The cue ball hits the orange ball, banks off the long rail and slides into the side pocket with the orange ball following it in. Other times, players add a glass bottle for the cue ball to curve around, and maybe knock an object ball in before the orange ball. In this case, it's best to start off small. I think it's still a part of the trick shot program, but I wouldn't reccomend using this shot in tournaments because of difficult it is. If you want to use it against another player, feel free, the choice is yours and good luck.
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Circular Draw
This is one that I believe was created by Mike Massey, but it was Cowboy Jimmy Moore who made the shot special with the use of a slip stroke. Many variations has been done for this shot over the years since it was introduced. Under the leg, two blocker balls, speed shot add on, etc. It's actually amazing how many variations people can come up with from one trick shot, but it's all thanks to the creator, Mike Massey for opening up the door for new variations to be done. It's a hard shot, no doubt, but this is one you must accomplish on in order to become a pro.
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Nangle's Drawback Massacre
Dave Nangle came up with a new variation of a shot from the Artistic Pool Program a couple years ago. It features the same shot, but with an alley for the cue ball to go through and make the hanger ball. It's one that I believe that Dave created himself. I haven't seen him used it in tournament lately, and he should because this is too cool of a shot to pass up on. Pressing the "Easy" button would be optional after the shot, but I figure that you know I would, but don't feel like it. I love this shot, and one on my list for top favorites. Enjoy!
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Close Draw
Here's another classic shot and one for the ages, the "Close Draw". Nick Nikolaidis also used it for a Pool and Billiard Magazine issue of April 2011. It can be possible to make when you add another blocker ball to the spot ball to make it more difficult, and you can even add props and other things to make the shot cooler looking. With a slip stroke on the bottom left of the cue ball, it will have no trouble of making that hanger ball. Feel free to make it more challenging if it's too easy for you. ;)
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The Venom Stroke
Florian Kohler created this wonderful masterpiece, but he would be the only guy that I know that can do it, flawlessly. He pulled it off on both 2013 WCOTS and on 2014 TSM in front of Andy Segal. Everybody else I've seen have tried this shot, but they can''t figure out how to make it come back to pocket the hanger ball. My way of doing this shot is like Abram's where he used a closed bridge instead of an open bridge like Florian. It's best to use silicone spray for this shot in case you are having trouble with this sort of shot. I love this shot because of it's creativity and how Florian can put a spin like that on the cue ball and spin back.
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Spinning Ball Timer
The goal is to apply spin on the cue ball and have it spin for more than 30 seconds! I've seen this shot from Trick Shot Express by Florian Kohler where applied massive spin on the cue ball and it spun for about 43 seconds! Impressive. Here, I've added a timer below to show how many seconds it took to apply spin to the cue ball. For my first time doing this shot, I did it in 35 seconds. Not bad for a first timer.
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Abram's Dipsy
A shot that is a part of the Artistic Pool Program today, and a shot Abram Diaz can do easily. I've tried this shot before many times in the past with three balls, but I've always find impossible as a teenager to master it. Now that I've worked on my stroke for so long, I can perform it with ease and apply more curve on the cue ball. Other players can even go around 4 or 5 balls depending on their angle when shooting the cue ball into the hanger ball. Watch the magic on this shot here!
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Force Follow - Behind the Back
Now we sometimes need to make old shots look brand new again, and in this case, by today standards, it is heavidly required for most trick shot shows today. Doing the shot behind my back is not new, but it makes the shot feel fresh again since this is a very old shot and not as hard to perform nowadays. I use to love the shot when I was learning, but by doing it behind my back made it more interesting for me to go back and look at what other classic trick shots that needs an update to today's spectators in trick shots.
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No Look - Force Follow
Same shot from the last one, but without looking! No-Look category has also been adapted by Florian Kohler as well. You apply a mental picture of how you want to shoot the cue ball while aiming, and after you close your eyes, shoot. Most times when you concentrated and aim really well, you will be making the shot flawlessly. Keep that in mind. It's a little dangerous to be even using glass bottles, so for your sake, always use plastic bottles if you've been hitting glass bottles on the table lately. So heed my warning because you've been warned.
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